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Whose Life Is It Anyway? (film)

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Whose Life Is It Anyway?
Theatrical release poster by Tom Jung
Directed byJohn Badham
Written byBrian Clark
(play, screenplay)
Reginald Rose (screenplay)
Produced byLawrence P. Bachman
StarringRichard Dreyfuss
John Cassavetes
Christine Lahti
Bob Balaban
CinematographyMario Tosi
Edited byFrank Morriss
Music byArthur B. Rubinstein
Production
company
Distributed byUnited Artists (United States/Canada)
Cinema International Corporation (International)
Release date
  • December 2, 1981 (1981-12-02)
Running time
119 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$11.5 million[1]
Box office$6.1 million[1]

Whose Life Is It Anyway? is a 1981 American drama film directed by John Badham and starring Richard Dreyfuss. It was adapted by Brian Clark and Reginald Rose from Clark's 1972 television movie and 1978 stage play, all under the same title. Whose Life Is It Anyway? received a 70% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 10 reviews and an average rating of 6.58/10.[2]

Plot

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Set in Boston, this film features sculptor Ken Harrison, who becomes paralyzed from the neck down after a car accident. He is no longer able to use his hands, create art, walk, feed himself, make love, or have any semblance of a normal existence. Because he can no longer pursue any of his passions, and because he will likely need medical help forever, he wants to end his life. However, he is physically unable to commit suicide... so he looks to end his life in other ways... all of which would require his body to be discharged from the hospital. He asks for this from Dr Emerson, the hospital administrator, and he refuses; Emerson is staunchly opposed to euthanasia, and is determined to keep his patient alive—even against his wishes.

He dumps his girlfriend, who is initially distraught, but eventually accepts that their relationship could not realistically continue, and accepts his decision to end his life.

Harrison hires Carter Hill, a lawyer—who is at first reluctant to represent him, but eventually does so. Harrison legally petitions the hospital for the right to end his life.

Claire Scott, Harrison's sympathetic physician, eventually develops personal feelings for Harrison. She wants to keep him alive, even though Harrison's girlfriend, Pat, accepted his decision to end his life.

A young male orderly and a young female nurse at the hospital do what they can to keep Harrison's spirits up—even wheeling him to the hospital basement in the wee hours of the night, where they treat him to a live reggae concert and marijuana.

A legal hearing is eventually convened where Harrison presents his arguments to a judge on his right to die. After researching a previous similar case, the judge ultimately sides with Harrison and affirms it is his right to decide what to do with his own life.

Later in the hospital, Claire readies Ken for death in his bed. She attempts to kiss him, but he turns his head stating it would be too hard to admit their feelings now. Claire leaves the room and closes his shade, leaving him to pass away on his own terms.

Cast

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Boyer, Peter; Pollock, Dale (28 March 1982). "MGM-UA AND THE BIG DEBT". Los Angeles Times. p. 11.
  2. ^ Whose Life Is It Anyway?, retrieved 2018-05-10
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